As Montreal families settle into the fall routine, the reality of rising grocery bills is once again hitting hard. Inflation on food, while slowing compared to last year’s peak, remains above the overall inflation rate in Quebec. For neighbourhoods like Parc-Extension, where household incomes are among the lowest in the city, even small price hikes can create ripple effects on daily life.
Statistics Canada’s most recent data show food inflation in Quebec hovering around 3.8% year-over-year in August 2025. Essentials like fresh produce, dairy, and bread remain costly, while prepared foods and meat have seen some of the steepest increases. Families that once managed a modest weekly budget are now forced to make difficult choices about what to put in their carts.
Parc-Extension’s streets are dotted with small ethnic grocery stores, offering everything from South Asian spices to Mediterranean staples. While these shops provide cultural comfort and affordable alternatives to big-box chains, even they have been unable to absorb the full impact of wholesale price increases.
Community organizations have stepped in to fill the gap. Local food banks and collective kitchens in the borough of Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension report rising demand, particularly from newcomer families with young children. At the same time, donations have not kept pace with the surge, stretching resources thin.
Montreal has attempted to respond to food insecurity through urban agriculture projects, subsidies for collective gardens, and pilot programs to reduce food waste. Parc-Extension, with its limited green space, presents challenges but also opportunities: community gardens and rooftop farming initiatives are increasingly seen as practical solutions.
City-wide, advocacy groups continue to call for stronger provincial action, such as indexing social assistance rates to inflation and creating targeted grocery subsidies for low-income households. For many Parc-Ex families, such measures could mean the difference between stability and constant uncertainty at the checkout counter.
As the cost of living continues to climb, Parc-Extension illustrates the human side of Montreal’s inflation story: a diverse community resilient in the face of economic stress, yet increasingly dependent on support systems to ensure that no child goes hungry.
